ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the factors that encourage companies to implement an environmental management system (EMS) and examines the influence of an EMS on management practices. An EMS is part of the general management system of a firm 'that includes organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy'. A two-part questionnaire was developed to examine the reasons for implementing an EMS along with its influence on the development of a firm's environmental management practices. The first part investigated the four areas of environmental management practices: internal environmental management, environmental policy and strategy, environmental production standards, and environmental product standards. The second part of the questionnaire examined the factors, split into the same four areas, influencing the implementation of an EMS. However the results indicate that certified firms have better implemented management practices and that, consequently, certification can be a strong basis for good environmental performance.
